Welcome to the International Kiteboarding Association

Our Vision

To grow, evolve and promote the sport of kiteboarding across the globe and across all disciplines.

For more information please also visit our topic specific websites:

Formula Kite

The Formula Kite class is a high performance hydrofoiling class using regulated series registered production equipment freely available.

For Regional Games and a possible inclusion in the Olympic Games, one hydrofoil model and one kite model will be selected for a plain level playing field and to avoid an arms race.

KiteFoil GoldCup

The KiteFoil class is a full development class with minimal equipment limitation, allowing brands to test the latest equipment on the market.

The GoldCup tour is the sports premium event series with events all around the world and a strong focus on media production and prize money level.

Slalom

Slalom on TT:R (TwinTip boards) has been selected as the discipline and equipment for the Youth Olympic Games 2018 in Buenos Aires.

The focus of this high-octane discipline is on equipment handling and technique and includes reaching starts, reaching courses, and obstacels to jump.

Expression

The Expression Disciplines currently include Freestyle, Big Air, Wave Riding, Strapless Freestyle and Park. Competition is judged on difficulty and execution rather than "first past the post".

World Sailing, IKA and GKA have agreed to share the responsibilities for the Expression Disciplines with the Open World Titles awarded through professional tours.

Youth Olympics

Kiteboarding has been included in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games with a boardercross event on IKA TwinTip:Racing equipment, for boys and girls born between 2000 and 2003.

Have a look here to learn more about equipment limitations, formats and qualification opportunities.

Olympic and Regional Games

The IKA continues to campaign for an inclusion of kiteboarding in the 2020 Tokyo Games and several Regional Games on One Design Kitefoiling Equipment.

The Formula Kite class is the only afforadable solution for emerging and developing nations to compete in high performance classes and ticks all boxes of the IOC requirements, especially for youth and media appeal.

Tack and Winkowska Top the Podium in Panama

Christophe Tack and Karolina Winkowska secured their first place finishes in the double elimination today in choppy onshore conditions. Top spots were overtaken and challenging conditions prevailed.

Dramatic performances finished off the double elimination today under sunny skies and steady breeze. With winds averaging 14-18 knots throughout the day, the short period chop made landings difficult and physically demanding.

Marc Jacobs managed to climb his way back up from an early exit in the singles, advancing solidly through three heats with his powerful riding. He eventually fell however, to a well-rested Aaron Hadlow, whose high-scoring Front Blind Mobe and Blind Judge 5 secured his fourth place position.

Next was Robinson Hilario, who beat out Hadlow with his stylish execution and extremely low kite position. Hilario then managed to move up from from third to second place by beating out Alex Neto, who struggled to land some of his signature tricks.

In a dramatic finale, Christophe Tack beat out the young Dominican by stomping a wide variety of well-executed technical tricks in what was the highest scoring heat of the day. Despite impressive tricks from Hilario such as 317 and S-Mobe 7, Tack’s Slim 7, Blind Judge 7, and Crow Mobe 5 secured his eventual victory.

For the women’s ladder, an impressive Annelous Lammerts climbed up the ladder to fourth place by taking out Annabel Van Westerop in a close heat before falling to Gisela Pulido to come in fourth. Pulido then advanced over Bruna Kajiya, knocking her to third place and reaching the finals. A notable scare came from Gisela when she crashed hard in the last 30 seconds of her heat against Karolina Winkowska. Thankfully she is fine, and despite riding well, she was no match for Karolina, who managed to land a Back Mobe and S-Mobe amongst other tricks for the win.

Tomorrow will kick off the second discipline of the Nitro City Kite and Cable Challenge. It will be a best trick contest format, wherein the top four riders will advance to do battle on the Nitro City 2.0 cable system featuring kickers and sliders. Riders meeting begins at 2:00 with a first possible start at 2:30.

Stay tuned. to the Facebook and Twitter feeds for the latest results and start times for the live web cast, which can be viewed here.